Why do we Procrastinate ?

Many people misunderstand procrastination as a problem of laziness or poor time management. But procrastination especially problem procrastination is often a strategy used to manage struggles with self-esteem.
Everybody puts off some things some of the time. But some folks suffer considerable consequences, both external and internal.

External consequences: lost opportunities, missed deadlines, late fees, physical symptoms of stress, trouble at school, work, or in close relationships.

Internal consequences: anxiety, depression, harsh self-judgment, feelings of fraudulence.
When procrastination interferes with your productivity and your peace of mind, it is probably related to underlying fears and issues with self-esteem.

Here are some of the most common anxieties linked with procrastination:

Fear of Failure
Example: Jesse is majoring in Engineering with the hope of getting a good job after graduation. He is behind on his homework, and he’s often late doing his part on group projects. Engineering doesn’t seem to come as naturally to him as it does for others. He knows he should work even harder to keep up, but instead he plays video games and practices his guitar. Then he hates himself for not doing well in his major and fears he’s ruining his chances in the job market. Analysis: Jesse is afraid that his best effort won’t be good enough. By procrastinating, he does not give his best effort. Then when he doesn’t do well, he can blame it on procrastination, not on a lack of ability. He protects his self-esteem by assuming that if he had kept up with his work, he would have done much better.  It’s safer to feel bad about not trying than to put in the effort and fall short.
It’s possible that Jesse’s procrastination is a signal to be taken seriously. Maybe engineering is a good idea in theory, but it’s not the right field for him. Or maybe if he wasn’t so afraid of failing and immersed himself in his work, he would like it better. As long as he procrastinates, he’ll never know.

Fear of Success
Example:  Rachel is a project manager for a pharmaceutical company. Her boss is grooming her for advancement. But Rachel is slowing down, instead of achieving. She puts off communicating with her team, is late returning emails, and she even forgot to attend an important meeting.


Analysis: Rachel is using procrastination to sabotage her promotion. She worries about the demands that would come with more success, and she’s not sure she wants them or could handle them. And if she did succeed at the next level, would even more be expected of her? Instead of making a thoughtful decision about her career path, Rachel is relying on procrastination to avoid success.


Fear of Feeling Controlled
Example: As a self-employed contractor, Ryan enjoys being his own boss. He never liked working for other people—he didn’t realize he’s end up having to answer to his clients. They often ignore his advice and a few of them haggle over his charges. Ryan rarely meets the timelines he has projected, and he waits too long to order materials and line up his sub-contractors. Clients are inconvenienced and angry with him, and he feels unappreciated for his skills.
Analysis: Ryan’s procrastination is expressing his frustration indirectly. He feels resentment that clients tell him what to do while he knows better. One way he can take charge is to work on his schedule, not theirs. His procrastination is his way of taking control instead of feeling controlled. He knows it’s self-defeating because he doesn’t get referrals from his clients, but he his unable to compromise his sense of independence.

 To help identify the reasons behind your procrastination, imagine the issues you would face if you stopped procrastinating. What problems are “solved” by procrastination? If you address those fears directly, you won’t have to rely on procrastination for protection, and you will be more able to get on with your life.


Tag: Psychology today ,  Jane Burka and Lenora Yuen .....